Locally Elected Olympians: Meet the Municipal Leaders Who Have Gone for Gold

National League of Cities: How did your experience as an Olympian prepare or inform your work with local government?

John McArdle: The same mindset athletes use also became a framework for addressing needs in the community: goal setting, planning, teamwork, focusing on the task every day, overcoming obstacles, being willing to think big, etc. Athletics and local government both require taking a long view to get to the ultimate goal. The best results happen through cooperation, collaboration and communication…with teammates, or with local residents and city staff.

NLC: In a time of increasing polarization, sports can be a powerful unifier. How can sports and sportsmanship serve to increase civility and trust in local government?

McArdle: In sport there is always another competition. You’ll see the same person/team again, so treat them as you would like to be treated. In local government, we will see the same people in town, at the store, school, church or at community activities. Kids will mimic on the field how they see the adult act. We, inside and outside of government, need to remember that how we act will be noticed by young people and that we have a responsibility to behave well. It’s in our long-term interest both on the fields of play and in the city halls. We all have to live with our actions in sport and in our community. Today’s foe may be our teammate or ally in overcoming the next obstacle.  People acting in ways that are honorable are respected and effective now and for years to come.

National League of Cities: How did your experience as an Olympian prepare or inform your work with local government?

Liston D. Bochette III: The Olympic Games teaches athletes to set clear micro, mezzo and macro goals to reach their potential. It prepares us for success through lessons of commitment, dedication and fair play. Sport prepares young people for the future in any profession. I have worked with many Heads of States which has prepared me well for community service.

NLC: In a time of increasing polarization, sports can be a powerful unifier. How can sports and sportsmanship serve to increase civility and trust in local government?

Bochette: Sports unifies people of diverse languages, races and ethnicities. The world understands that nothing comes without sacrifice. That is why Olympians are so admired. An athlete’s career is short. The greatest treasures in life don’t come with a price tag. Education, meaningful career paths and personal relationships are our greatest rewards.

National League of Cities: How did your experience as an Olympian prepare or inform your work with local government?

Judith Brown Clarke: As an Olympic medalist, I learned to set ambitious goals, commit to multi-year plans and perform under pressure. That becomes invaluable in politics, where timelines are long, issues are complex, and public expectations are high. Most people struggle under scrutiny; athletes learn to excel with the world watching.

Elite athletics also teaches coalition-building. Even in “individual” sports, no one succeeds alone. Coaches, trainers, sponsors and teammates form your operating ecosystem. That maps directly to politics: progress depends on aligning stakeholders, working with subject-matter experts and engaging the public you serve.

Representation matters as well. When I competed, the women’s 400m hurdles were new to the Olympics. I saw how rules, governing bodies and resource decisions determine who gets access and opportunity. That awareness transferred naturally into policy work, because politics is about how systems are shaped and who benefits from them.

NLC: In a time of increasing polarization, sports can be a powerful unifier. How can sports and sportsmanship serve to increase civility and trust in local government?

Brown Clarke: Sports provide a shared language built on teamwork, discipline and respect. These values help residents see one another as capable and committed rather than as political opponents. This makes civic conversations more productive and helps communities cooperate.

The Olympic movement shows this on a global scale. Athletes from around the world gather in one village, pursue excellence and respect competitors from different nations. Political disagreements remain, but they do not define every interaction. This spirit of universal diplomacy demonstrates that competition and respect can coexist.

Local governments can use these lessons through community sports programs, recreation events and public celebrations of athletic success. These activities build trust because they connect people in positive settings outside political debates.

National League of Cities: How did your experience as an Olympian prepare or inform your work with local government?

Wayne Seybold: My experience as an Olympian helped in many ways with my job as Mayor.

It taught me that staying trained or educated and up to date is very important. That is why I was very active in organizations like NLC and Accelerate Indiana Municipalities by attending all classes, sitting on boards and being active. I learned things at all those functions and meetings that made me a much better mayor.

I knew how to deal with the highs and lows of the job. As athletes, we know from training there are good days and bad and you learn how to push through. It helped me set goals for myself and helped me direct 15 department heads on how to set goals and taught me that many times that even your toughest competitor can be your strongest ally.

NLC: In a time of increasing polarization, sports can be a powerful unifier. How can sports and sportsmanship serve to increase civility and trust in local government?

Seybold: In sport we are very competitive on the field and then directly after go and have dinner or just hang out. That is what is instilled in our local City Hall employees and in our local politics. We will compete hard on the field, and once that is over, we will work together for the good of the community. I would tell everyone: if your house is on fire, we do not ask if you are Republican or Democrat. We rush to put it out. We will do the same in all areas.